Baptist Health of Northeast Florida names Eric Fletcher as executive vice president and chief strategy officer

Following an extensive national search and review process, Baptist Health of Northeast Florida has named Eric Fletcher, MBA, FACHE, as executive vice president, chief strategy officer (CSO), effective July 28, 2025.

In this newly developed role, Fletcher will collaborate with senior leadership to design and execute a forward-thinking strategic roadmap that aligns with Baptist Health’s mission and long-term vision. His leadership will help the organization remain agile and responsive to the community’s evolving health needs, while continuing to deliver compassionate, high-quality care that puts patients and families first. Fletcher will champion initiatives that increase access to care and enhance patient experience and satisfaction. By building strong community partnerships and adopting forward-thinking care models and solutions, Fletcher will help Baptist Health remain a trusted, mission-driven, locally governed health care leader in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.

“Eric is a values-driven leader with a deep understanding of the health care landscape, particularly at a community level,” said Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “He understands and recognizes that real health outcomes are not determined solely in hospitals or clinical settings, but also in homes, neighborhoods and communities, and he applies this insight to every strategic decision he makes.”

Fletcher brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in non-profit, community-based health care. He most recently served as senior vice president and CSO of Mary Washington Healthcare in Virginia, where he led systemwide strategic planning for the health system with two acute care hospitals, four emergency departments, a behavioral health facility and several specialty outpatient centers. There, he drove systemwide revenue growth and new business development initiatives. His responsibilities included managing joint ventures, strengthening physician alignment, advancing quality and efficiency and guiding marketing and community relations strategies.

“It’s an exciting time to be joining Baptist Health, particularly with so much recent growth in the Jacksonville area,” said Fletcher. “I’m committed to working alongside team members, patients and local stakeholders to build a healthier future for this rapidly expanding community.”

Fletcher earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Master of Business Administration from Elon University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Master Examiner with the national Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and holds a Lean Six Sigma certification.